Trainer Kelsey Danner, who secured last year’s $250,000 Miss Grillo (G2) victory at Aqueduct with Ground Support, aims to defend her title with the talented Bittersweet Memory in this Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile Widener turf race for 2-year-old fillies at Belmont Park.
The Miss Grillo, Race 7 on the card, grants the winner an automatic entry into the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, scheduled for October at Keeneland.
Bittersweet Memory, a Kentucky-bred owned by NBS Stable, enters off a narrow neck win in only her second start, a 1 1/16-mile turf maiden race at Saratoga on August 28. The daughter of The Factor took command early under jockey Luis Saez, maintaining a rail position through solid early fractions of :23.60 and :49.40 on firm turf. Although pressed by Amelia In Air turning for home, Bittersweet Memory fought back well to hold off a late challenge from Sellonthenews, finishing in 1:44.06 and earning a commendable 72 Beyer Speed Figure.
Danner praised the filly, noting she has always seemed fit for longer distances and appears more polished after her recent race, highlighting her physical growth between starts. Bittersweet Memory initially debuted with a stalking third-place finish on August 1 at Saratoga, behind the closely matched leaders Voyager and Correlation Trade. Notably, Voyager later won the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes at Woodbine.
Since her maiden win, Bittersweet Memory has had two workouts—covering a half-mile in :49.40 on September 11 over Saratoga’s Oklahoma turf track, then replicating that time on Tapeta at Belmont on September 19. Danner mentioned the filly’s familiarity with breezing on synthetic surfaces at Turfway.
By Twirling Candy out of Candy Floss, Bittersweet Memory traces back to the influential broodmare Up the Flagpole. Manny Franco will pilot her from post 7.
Among her rivals, Gary Barber’s Bounce Back, trained by Mark Casse and drawing post 5 with Antonio Fresu aboard, showed promise with a strong fourth-place effort in the Grade 1 Natalma. Despite a slow start and wide trip, Bounce Back closed impressively, finishing just 1 1/2 lengths behind winner Voyager and narrowly missing third by a head. Casse praised her talent and growth, acknowledging that with better luck she might have finished second. Though still winless, Bounce Back posted the third-best Beyer figure (76) among the Miss Grillo contenders. She was second by 2 1/4 lengths in her debut sprint on Woodbine’s turf and represents Casse’s chance for his first win in the race. The Hard Spun filly is a half-sister to graded stakes turf performer Pounce through her dam Bouncy, a Twirling Candy mare.
Also representing Casse is Golden Siren, a Bolt d’Oro filly who earned a wire-to-wire victory at Saratoga in her second start on August 21. Taking control early, she pulled clear by four lengths in 1:43.61. Purchased for $135,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Sale, Golden Siren is out of Sea Song, a mare by The Factor and half-sister to notable graded stakes winners including this year’s Charles Town Oaks victor Niche.
Klaravich Stables’ Domestic Agenda, ridden by Flavien Prat from post 6, hopes to bring trainer Chad Brown a record-extending tenth Miss Grillo win. Brown’s previous winners include stars like Lady Eli and New Money Honey, many of whom used this race as a stepping stone to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf success. Domestic Agenda took her debut by a half-length over 1 1/16 miles at Saratoga on September 4, showing tactical speed and rallying late under Prat to win in 1:43.71 with a 69 Beyer figure. The American Pharoah filly, purchased for $290,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, is out of Gun Runner mare Smuggle, related to graded stakes winner Chess Chief.
Icon Racing Stable’s Runaway Bride, trained by Whit Beckman and ridden by Edgard Zayas from the rail, finished fifth in the Natalma, just a half-length behind Bounce Back. The Charlatan filly broke her maiden over 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga in July and is out of Bayern mare American Model, sister to two-time Grade 1 winner American Gal.
Rounding out the field are maiden winners Sunny Bird [post 8, Chris Elliott], Fiora [post 4, Ricardo Santana Jr.], and Quibbler [post 3, Kendrick Carmouche], trained respectively by Keri Brion, Philip Antonacci, and Riley Mott.
This original report was published by Paulick Report on September 27, 2026.
Fan Take: The Miss Grillo serves as an early proving ground for future turf stars and offers a critical pathway to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, making it a must-watch for fans tracking the next generation of elite fillies. With a competitive field boasting multiple graded stakes performers and promising newcomers, this race highlights the depth and excitement of 2-year-old turf racing’s future.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
